This biweekly column tries to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about recycling, composting and the town's solid waste program.

Correction: The Nov. 8 column had the wrong phone number for the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless. The correct number is 617-423-9162, and the extension for furniture pickup is 101.

Thanksgiving weekend traditionally signals the beginning of the year's biggest shopping season. This is an excellent time to think about reducing solid waste. You can take your own bags with you to stores instead of using their bags. You can buy presents that might help other people reduce their trash (such as a set of machine washable cloth table napkins). You can make sure that anything you buy is not heavily packaged. Wrapping paper can be re-used, and once it's pretty worn out, it can be recycled with your other paper as long as it's not foil and you've removed the ribbons. Send your home-baked goodies in re-usable storage containers which the recipient can then keep using year-round. If you receive a box packed with Styrofoam peanuts, drop them off at Mailboxes Etc. on Waltham Street, where they will reuse them.

Q: Can I recycle aluminum pie pans?

A: Yes, if they are clean.

Q: Can I put the foam trays that are used for packaging meat into the recycle bin?

A: Yes, if they are clean.

Q: I would like to get rid of an aluminum ladder - can I put it with the trash as a bulky item?

A: The garbage truck will take most bulky items if they fit into the truck. Carroll's on Waltham Street accepts many kinds of scrap metal (and said they will take your ladder) including tire rims, car parts, shelving - almost anything metal except for air conditioners and refrigerators (see below). Carroll's can be reached at 781-861-6060.

Q: I put out an air conditioner and it is still at the curb - isn't this a bulky item that we can have picked up with the trash?

A: There is a category of solid waste called "white goods" which Waste Management will collect, but you must call them first at 781-933-2113 to arrange for a pickup date. The white goods pickup is usually on Wednesdays - it is a separate truck. The white goods include stoves, microwave ovens, refrigerators, washer and dryers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and water heaters.

Reminders from the workers on the recycling truck:

Your recyclables must be sorted into two categories: paper: including paperboard egg cartons and cardboard; and containers: milk/juice cartons, plastic, metal, glass. You can do this with two bins by having all the paper in one bin and your plastic containers, cans, etc. in the other. If you use just one bin, put the containers loose in the bottom of the bin and all paper items in paper bags on top.

No plastic bags should be in the bins. Containers such as those for motor oil or pesticides can't go into the bin, whatever they're made of.